The flathead season is still going strong so now is the time to get out to the Pin and chase some lizards!

Whether you are into baitfishing or luring, the types of areas that you should be looking for are those where lots of bait (a delicacy to flathead) are active. You should look to where there is cover to provide camouflage and avoid detection or an exposed bank on a falling tide. Some of the best spots that provide these elements are: the weed and mud banks near Pandannus Island and Tipplers Island; north of Cabbage Tree Pt; on the shallow side of the green beacons; Slipping Sands; the bottom of Kangaroo Island; Tiger Mullet Channel; and out the front of Behms Creek.

If you like using plastics then a good rule of thumb is 2-5” with a ¼oz jighead is a good start with either neutral colours, or my favourite white to mimic a struggling bait.

If you like trolling then stick to 1-5ft drop offs varying your speed and working the lure to make it swim erratically.

Bait fisherman stick to live bait like mullet or herring or stick with pilchards or white bait if you can’t get your hands on any livies.

The whiting catch starts to pick up at this time of year but there will be some elbow slappers out there if you are willing to be patient and put in the hard yards. Whiting forage for food on the bottom and like a fast moving tide so it’s always a good idea to move your bait around if you aren’t getting any bites. Live blood and beach worms are simply the best baits but yabbies, prawns and squid will also do the job if no worms are available.

In October the better spots will be the Gold Bank, behind Diner Island, the back of Tabby Tabby, the Never Fail Islands, and near Slipping Sands.

Small tides early this month make for a great time to target mulloway with big livies at the deep water off Swan Bay, NE Crusoe Island, Flat Rock, Giants Grave, and Marks Rocks in the River. Mangrove Jacks and Estuary Cod will become more active and be on the chew with the warmer waters in any spot with a decent snag, fallen tree or rock wall.

Trolling rattling lures by the snags or presenting a small live mullet/herring will always temp these great fighting fish to strike. A lot of sandies will appear along the deeper holes of Tiger Mullet Channel, Tabby Tabby, Canaipa Passage, the mouth of the Logan River, and near Diner Island. Muddies have been in good numbers in the lower reaches of the Logan, off Cabbage Tree Point, Cobby Passage and behind Eden Island.

Some decent sized bream around the 30cm have appeared but are nothing to write home about and most are well undersized and probably what has been knocking your bait off all day. If you’d just like to have fun then down size your hook and the size bait you’re using and you’ll find your hook up rate will increase.

Try all the usual hot spots for bream because they are always there looking for an easy meal. Thanks for all your reports and fish weighed in. Feel free to drop us a line at Gem Bait and Tackle on 3287 3868 or email --e-mail address hidden-- for up to date info and I’ll catch you next month.